Daily Archives: December 9, 2011

December 9, 2011Comments Off on Lady Cats surge with four staight road wins

For most teams the thought of four straight road games over the course of a week would be daunting. But for the Wildcat girls’ basketball team it couldn’t have been better. The girls went on a four-game win streak to run their record to 5-3.

The Lady Cats defeated Baldwin 65-57 on November 29 to get a little revenge for a one-point home loss to the Indians earlier in the year. Tiana Raysor had her best game of the season, throwing in 20 points. The offensive woes that had bothered BCHS early in the season disappeared as four Cats were in double figures.

The game was close throughout, with BCHS up 31-23 at the half. Raysor came alive with 8 points in the third period as the Cats extended their lead to 48-31. The Indians came back in the fourth period, but it was too little too late.

Raysor had 20 on the night. Chelsey Ruise and Marnae Gaskins each had a dozen points and Shanice Paige added 11 points.

• The girls traveled to Terry Parker on November 30 and snatched a big district win over the Braves with a 72-49 romp.

BCHS broke open a 16-14 game in the second quarter, going on a 20-9 run. Parker never recovered and the Cats built on their lead. They were up 48-34 at the end on the third quarter but a 23 point final stanza sealed the win.

December 9, 2011Comments Off on School builds special float for cancer-stricken boy

Seven-year-old cancer survivor Benjamin Davis was the grand marshal of the 2011 Baker County Lighted Christmas Parade on December 3.

Benjamin, along with his mother Valerie Davis, rode on a special float created just for him by the PreK/Kindergarten Center where he is a student.

“It was so wonderful,” Ms. Davis said earlier this week. “Finding out Ben was to be the Grand Marshal and then having the PreK Center build a float to celebrate his blanket project. I was so impressed at how everyone down there pulled together to do this.

“Benjamin loved it. His favorite part of the float was the lights. And when he saw the blankets he said, ‘Mom! We got even more!”’

Benjamin was diagnosed with cancer last spring and immediately began chemotherapy treatments that conclude December 23. According to his family, doctors have recently given him a “cancer free” report.

The young man, with help from family and friends, launched a community blanket drive earlier in the fall. His goal is to collect blankets this Christmas for the children on the oncology wards at Wolfson Children’s Hospital and Nemours Children’s Clinic where he has been a patient.

The Davis family says the response from businesses, schools, churches and individuals in the community has been more than they could have imagined.

With the help of guidance counselor Becky Nix who acted as coordinator, the PreK Center began collecting blankets weeks ago for the cause and to date has accumulated more than 200.

I was employed at a fast food restaurant in Baker County for more than a year, and I have a lot to say about my experience. Let me tell you, it was awful. The only thing good about it was I met some wonderful people and learned how to handle money and deal with customers.

It was a long year of never being able to count on hours. You can have 20-25 hours one week and 15 hours the next, and when you’re already making minimum wage, that’s definitely not okay. And how is it fair that the only raise I got was 6 cents when minimum wage was changed?

I worked when I was there, and I came in countless times to cover for other people. I worked Friday nights on the cash register by myself with rude, impatient customers who wanted their food immediately. They didn’t understand that food takes time to cook, and many times, there’s only one person making sandwiches for both the lobby and drive-thru window. When customers get impatient, and your coworkers get stressed and snap at you, it all makes for a stressful environment.

Jane Smith Williams of Rochester, NY died Saturday, December 3, 2011. She was born to the late John Robert (J.R.) and Elizabeth Smith in Sanderson on June 20, 1960 and graduated in 1978 from Baker County High School in Macclenny. She earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Rockport University of Rochester.

Missionary Williams served faithfully in the Church of God by Faith in Sanderson and in Rochester. She was consecrated as a Minister of the Churches of God by Faith Inc. in July of 2007. Jane also served as the director of day care at Ark of the Covenant Church of God by Faith in Rochester. Everyone who came in contact with Missionary Williams knew she loved the Lord.

The wake will be held Friday, December 9 from 7 pm to 9 pm at Ark of the Covenant Church of God by Faith in Rochester, NY. The celebration of life service will be on Saturday, December, 10 at 11:00 am at the same location with Pastor Nolan Williams officiating. Regency Chapel is in charge of arrangements.